Pennsylvania Outdoors Columnist
- The statewide fall archery season opens Oct. 4, with specific dates and Sunday hunting rules varying by location.
- Hunters must follow regulations regarding shooting hours, baiting, safety zones, and the placement of tree stands on public land.
- Crossbows, legalized in 2009, now account for over 65% of deer harvested with archery equipment in the state.
With archery season slated to open Oct. 4 across Pennsylvania, here are the answers to 10 questions all archers should know before they head to the woods.
Archery deer hunting in Pennsylvania is growing more popular in Pennsylvania. During the 2024-25 hunting year, archers actually put more tags on more bucks than rifle hunters did.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission estimates archers got 87,540 bucks and 90,600 antlerless deer. During firearms season, hunters got 86,530 bucks and 197,230 does and bucks without antlers.
The change makes sense as archery hunters during the fall season have six or seven weeks each year to enjoy warmer weather with colorful fall foliage. By the time Thanksgiving arrives, those going with a firearm endure a myriad of weather patterns including snow and freezing rains.
Also, since Pennsylvania legalized crossbows in 2009, additional younger and older hunters are finding ways to archery hunt. According to the Game Commission, crossbows account for more than 65% of the deer harvests taken by those using archery gear including long bows, recurves and compounds.Looking for a free mini puzzle? Play the USA TODAY Quick Cross now.
If you are planning to head to the woods with bow in hand this fall, here are the answers to 10 questions every Pennsylvania archer should know.
When does archery season begin?
The statewide fall archery season begins Oct. 4 and runs through Nov. 21, including all Sundays. The late season is Dec. 26 to Jan. 19. As of Sept. 12, no Sundays have been added to hunting seasons after Dec. 7 and the remainder of the 2025-26 license year. In Wildlife Management Units 2B near Pittsburgh, and 5C and 5D near Philadelphia, the seasons are Sept. 20-Nov. 28 and Dec. 26-Jan. 24. For archery hunting in state parks, only Nov. 26 is open to Sunday hunting. The park system plans to include more Sundays during the 2026-27 license year.
What are the shooting hours to hunt and can I track my deer after dark?
Hunting is permitted one-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset. Hunters who shoot a deer close to dusk and wait until dark to track the deer are required to call the Game Commission first at 833-PGC-HUNT so dispatchers can notify the appropriate game warden that tracking is taking place.
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Can you use bait for deer hunting in Pennsylvania?
For the vast majority of Pennsylvania, it’s illegal to hunt in or around any area where artificial or natural bait, food, hay, grain, fruit, nuts, salt, chemicals or minerals have been used within the past 30 days as an enticement to lure wildlife. However, baiting is conditionally allowed on private property in the Southeast Special Regulations Area.
Where can you hunt in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has more than 300 state game lands properties, about 2.2 million acres of state forest and 99 of 124 state parks have sections that allow hunting. The Game Commission and DCNR websites provide maps and directions for finding public lands to hunt.
Hunting is also permitted on private land where permission is granted. In addition to removing the ban on Sunday hunting this summer, the legislature also approved new penalties for hunters who trespass on private land. The penalty for trespassing while hunting has increased to a second-degree summary offense, in most cases. Trespassers who refuse to leave a property when asked, if convicted, will lose their hunting privileges for three years, while those convicted of a second or subsequent offense within seven years will lose their hunting privileges for five years.
How many deer can archers shoot?
Hunters with a general hunting license and archery stamp are permitted one buck each license year. Hunters can use as many antlerless tags as they have in their possession. The limit for hunters is six antlerless licenses at any one time in most of the state. However, hunters in WMUs 5C and 5D can purchase up to nine additional antlerless licenses on top of their personal limit of 6 for all other WMUs for a total of up to 15. Antlerless deer licenses are still available in many regions of the state.
Do archers have to wear orange clothing in Pennsylvania?
Archers are not required to wear fluorescent orange clothing when hunting during an archery season. However, if they choose to use archery gear in a rifle season for deer or bear, they are required to wear the minimum 250 square inches like other hunters.
Can hunters place tree stands on state property?
Tree stands and portable hunting blinds are permitted on Game Commission properties as long as they don’t damage trees. Portable stands and blinds left on state game lands and other Hunter Access Properties need to be marked with a durable identification tag that includes the owner’s first and last name and legal home address or bears the CID number that appears on the owner’s hunting license or a number issued by the Game Commission to the stand or blind owner. The Game Commission notes that placing a stand on public land does not reserve that spot for the owner; other hunters can hunt that location as well. Stands and blinds must be moved no later than two weeks after the final deer season in that area.
How close to a home or building can archers hunt in Pennsylvania?
The safety zone for archery hunting is at least 50 yards from occupied buildings and at least 150 yards from schools, nursery schools and daycare centers.
How many points are bucks required to have?
In Pennsylvania, junior archers, mentored youth and disabled hunters with a permit to use a vehicle as a blind, and resident active duty U.S. Armed Services personnel can harvest antlered deer with two or more points on one antler, or a spike that’s at least three inches long. Adult hunters in most of the state are required to have at least three points on one antler. On the western fringe of Pennsylvania in WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B and 2D, hunters are required to see three up points on one side, excluding the brow tine.
Do broadhead tips fly like field tips?
When getting your archery gear ready for the season, make sure you shoot your broadheads at a target to ensure they fly like your field point tips. Sometimes a bow needs to be tuned or have the rest adjusted to make your arrows fly true. Mechanical broadheads work well to help fine tune arrow flight because they have a slimmer design than fixed blade tips. Shoot both designs to see which option works best for your setup. Also be sure to sharpen or replace dull blades on your hunting tips before your first hunt of the year.
Good luck hunting this fall, don’t forget your harness when climbing in a tree stand, and most of all, have fun enjoying time outdoors.
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